Flight station access system for an aircraft

Abstract

A crew systems module for providing normal ingress to and egress from an aircraft cockpit flight station includes a seat assembly for supporting a crew member and a shell which supports the seat assembly and is pivotally attached to the aircraft adjacent the cockpit. The shell is pivotal from a closed position placing the crew member in a flight-ready position to an ingress/egress position placing the crew member in a generally standing position. The shell in the ingress/egress position extends downward from the cockpit toward the ground. The shell preferably extends downward through the aircraft's wheel well which houses a folding or collapsible landing gear during flight. The crew systems module may be incorporated in a capsule which is separable from the aircraft in an emergency.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A crew systems module providing ingress to and egress from a cockpit of an aircraft, and comprising: a crew seat assembly for supporting a crew member;   a shell supporting the crew seat assembly, the shell being adapted to be pivotally attached to the aircraft cockpit so as to be pivotable between a flight position and an ingress/egress position, the shell in the ingress/egress position extending generally downwardly from the aircraft cockpit; and   an actuator operably coupled to the shell and operable to move the shell from the ingress/egress position to the flight position and vice versa.   
     
     
       2. The crew systems module of claim 1 wherein the shell includes a floor underlying the crew seat assembly and side walls extending generally upward from the floor on opposite longitudinal sides of the crew seat assembly so as to partially surround the crew seat assembly. 
     
     
       3. The crew systems module of claim 1 wherein the shell is adapted to be pivotally attached to the aircraft cockpit about a pivot axis located adjacent an aft end of the shell, the shell in the flight position placing a crew member in a generally reclined position with respect to the aircraft, and the shell in the ingress/egress position placing a crew member in a generally standing position with respect to the aircraft. 
     
     
       4. The crew systems module of claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises an electrically operated motor. 
     
     
       5. A crew system providing normal crew access to a flight station of an aircraft from below the aircraft, and comprising: an aircraft cockpit defining the crew flight station and including a canopy enclosing an upper portion of the flight station, the cockpit having a passage located below the flight station and adapted to be aligned with an opening in a bottom portion of the aircraft for providing ingress to and egress from the flight station downwardly through the passage and out the opening in the aircraft;   a crew module adapted to support at least one crew member, the crew module being pivotally attached to the aircraft cockpit so as to be pivotable between a closed position in which the crew module closes the passage and positions the crew member in a flight-ready position and an open position in which the crew module pivots downwardly and opens the passage to permit ingress to and egress from the flight station; and   an actuator coupled between the aircraft cockpit and the crew module and operable to move the crew module between the open and closed positions.   
     
     
       6. The crew system of claim 5 wherein the crew module comprises a crew seat assembly and a shell which supports the crew seat assembly, the shell including a floor underlying the crew seat assembly and side walls extending generally upward from the floor on opposite longitudinal sides of the crew seat assembly so as to partially surround the crew seat assembly. 
     
     
       7. The crew system of claim 6 wherein the crew seat assembly includes a seat having a seat back for supporting the torso of a crew member, and wherein the seat is adjustable to selectively vary the angle of the seat back with respect to the shell of the crew module. 
     
     
       8. The crew system of claim 5 wherein the crew module is pivotally attached to the aircraft cockpit about a pivot axis located adjacent an aft end of the crew module, and wherein the crew module in the closed position places a crew member in a generally reclined position with respect to the aircraft, and the crew module in the open position places a crew member in a generally standing position with respect to the aircraft. 
     
     
       9. The crew system of claim 5 wherein the actuator comprises an electrically operated motor. 
     
     
       10. The crew system of claim 5 wherein the canopy is separable from the aircraft to establish an ejection opening above the crew module for ejection of the seat assembly therethrough. 
     
     
       11. The crew system of claim 5 wherein the canopy and crew module form a capsule substantially enclosing the crew member, the capsule being separable from the aircraft for ejecting the crew member during an emergency. 
     
     
       12. The crew system of claim 11, further comprising a lifting surface attached to the crew module for providing lift to the capsule after separation from the aircraft.